Handling of rod bundles or the like



April 30, 1940. R. w. YOUNG ET AL 2.199.061

HANDLING OF Non BUNDLES OR THE LIKE Filed April 15, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS RICHARD M YOUNG JOSEPH M O'IYALLEY April 30,

R. W. YOUNG El AL HANDLING OF ROD BUNDLES OR THE LIKE Filed April 15, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY April 30, 1940. w, YOUNG r AL 2,199,061

HANDLING OF ROD BUNDLES OR THE LIKE Fild April 15, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENToRs RICHARD w: YOUNG JOSEPH M. o'MAL LEY ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES HANDLING OF ROD BUNDLES OR THE LIKE Richard W. Young and Joseph M. OMall.

Worcester, Mass., assignors to Morgan Construction Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 15, 1938, Serlal No. 202,282

11 Claims.

This invention relates to' the handling of rod bimdles or the like, and more particularly to the transfer of rod bundles and similar annuli from one conveyor to another.

; In rod mills it is the practice to coil the rods into annular bundles which are carried along withtheir axes substantially vertical on an endless conveyor known as a coil" conveyor. From the coil conveyor the bundles are transferred to a socalled hook carrier which comprises a series of suspended hooks upon which the bundles are himg with their axes substantially horizontal. In transferring the bundles from the coil conveyor to the hook carrier it has been diilicult heretofore to avoid disarranging the convolutions of the bundles, particularly in the case of bundles which are high in proportion to their diameter. Any such disturbance of the bundle is undesirable, and may result in the rod becoming en- ;0 tangled when it is uncoiled.

It is accordingly one object of the invention to overcome this difficulty and to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive-apparatus for transferring rod bundles from a coil conveyor to a hook carrier without disarranging the convolutions of the bundle.

In hook carriers as ordinarily constructed the hooks are suspended from wheels which travel upon a stationary rail, and in order to prevent w the hooks from swinging rearwardly when they first engage the bundles it has been the practice to provide the books with abutments adapted to engage the lower surface of the rail. These abutments rub against the rail, causing friction up and wear. Furthermore, with the prior construction it is not feasible to arrange the rail at an appreciable inclination, although'this is often desirable. Since rearward swinging of the hooks is prevented throughout the entire length of the carrier, such movement cannot be utilized to discharge the hooks, and other means must be employed. a

It is accordingly a further object of the invention to provide an improved construction which n will prevent rearward swinging of the hooks when they first engage the bundles, without preventing such movement at other times, and particularly to provide a construction which will allow the rail to be arranged at a substantial inclination if desired and which will avoid friction and wear.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in. the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

0 Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus, taken on the line l| of Fig. 2, with certain parts broken away for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with certain parts broken away for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the apparatus at a different point in its operating cycle; and

Fig. 4 is an elevation taken on the line 4-4 of 'Fig. 3.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a coil conveyor to having a series of flat substantially horizontal plates I l arranged to provide a central longitudinal slot l2. A series of dogs l4 and i5 project upwardly through the slot l2 from an endless chain l6 which passes downwardly around a sprocket l8 mounted on a transverse horizontal vshaft i9 adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor. The dogs l4 alternate with the dogs IS. The rod bundles B are placed upon the plates I I with the axes of the bundles upright and with the dogs l4 extending into the interior of the bundles, so that as these dogs move forwardly they will engage the rear of the front portions of the bundles and slide the bundles along the plates II. The dogs l5 are located between successive bundles, and come into use only as the dogs l4 pass around the sprocket l3, as will be explained hereinafter.

Adjacent the discharge end of the coil conveyor Hi there is provided a hook carrier 2! comprising an overhead rail 22 which supports a series of flanged wheels 23. Each wheel supports a depending hanger 25 from which there is suspended a hook 23. The hooks point forwardly in the direction of travel, and they are preferably connected to the hangers 25 by means of transverse hinge pins 21 so that they may swing freely therefrom. The hangers 25 are secured to an endless cable 29 located a short distance beneath the rail 22. This cable passes around a horizontal sheave 30 which is mounted on a vertical rotatable shaft 3| adjacent a reverse curve in the rail. The sheave is formed with spaced notches 32 (Fig. 1) arranged to engage the hangers 25 and ensure a positive drive therefor.

The coil conveyor Ill and the hook carrier 2| are actuated in timed relation by a common driving means. For this purpose there is provided an electric motor 34 (Fig. 1) which drives a bevel pinion 35 in mesh with a bevel gear 36 on a shaft 38. The shaft 38 carries a pinion 39 in mesh with a gear 40 on a shaft 4| having a pinion 43 thereon which meshes with a gear 44 on a shaft 45. The shaft 45 is coupled to an aligned shaft 41 having a bevel pinion 48 thereon (Fig. 4) which drives a bevel gear 49 on the vertical shaft 3| of the hook carrier. In order to drive the coil conveyor the shaft 45 is provided with a sprocket 5| which is connected by a chain 52 to a sprocket 53 on a shaft 54. This shaft carries a gear 56 (Fig. 4 which meshes with a gear 51 on the shaft IQ of the coil conveyor.

As the rod bundles reach the discharge end of the coil conveyor I 0 they are turned until their axes extend in a generally horizontal direction, whereupon the hooks 26 are inserted through the bundles from the rear thereof. For this purpose there is provided a supporting member 59 which projects forwardly from the discharge end of the conveyor H) in substantial alignment laterally with the conveyor chain l6. This member 59 is located slightly beyond the conveyor sprocket l8 and the parts are so arranged that the front portion of each rod bundle will pass over and drop downwardly beyond the end of the supporting member, while the rear portion of the bundle will rest upon the upper surface of the member. To facilitate this action, theupper surface of the member 59 is sloped downwardly and forwardy at its forward end, as indicated at 69 in Fig. 2, and a slight hump 6! is provided in the rear of this sloping portion. These parts are so positioned with respect to the coil conveyor that as each dog l5 passes beneath the plates I i, the corresponding bundle will come to rest for a moment until the following dog l5 engages its rear surface, whereupon the dog l5. will advance the bundle until its forward portion slides forwardly by gravity over the sloping surface 69 of the member 59, the rear portion of the bundle being I retained by the hump 6|, as shown in Fig. 2.

The front portion of the bundle is now preferably lowered gently to prevent possible disarrangement of the convolutions. For this purpose we have shown a supporting device in the form of a flanged tray 63 connected to the frame of the coil conveyor ID by means of horizontal hinges 64. This tray is located beneath the member 59 and is arranged to oscillate about its hinges between a raised position, as shown in Fig. 2, and a lowered position, as shown in Fig. 3. When the tray is raised, it extends forwardly beyond the member 59 in a position to support the forward portion of the rod bundle.

The tray 63 is actuated in timed relationship with the coil conveyor. For this purpose the tray is connected by a link 66 to the upper end of a lever 61 which is fulcrumed at its lower end on a bracket 68. This lever is provided with a roller 10 which engages the periphery of a cam H secured to the shaft 54." The weight of the tray and lever will be suflicient to maintain the roller 10 in contact with the cam. The cam is shaped and arranged to bring the tray to its elevated position as each bundle is advanced over the member 59, and then to lower the tray and provide a dwell when the tray has reached its lowermost position.

The hook carrier 2| is so located with relation to the coil conveyor III that the hooks 26 will pass through the rod bundles from the rear thereof while they are suspended from the member 59. This action preferably occurs while the hooks are passing around the sheave 30, as this makes it possible'to utilize a novel means for preventing rearward swinging of the hooks as they engage the bundles. For this purpose we have shown brackets 13 which extend downwardly from the sheave 30 in position to form abutments arranged to contact with bosses 14 on the rear of the hooks, as shown particularly in Fig. 3. The supporting member 59 is preferably formed with an upwardly open groove 16, as shown particularly in Fig. 4, through which the lower portion of each hook may travel. Thus the member 59 supports the bundle at two laterally spaced points, and the hook is inserted between these points of support.

As a further precaution against disarrangement of the convolutions, we have shown an arm 18 which extends forwardly and downwardly above the supporting member 59. The rear end of this arm is pivotally supported by means of a transverse horizontal shaft 19 mounted in bearing brackets 89 on the frame of the coil conveyor. This arm is arranged to rest by gravity on the bundles as they pass beneath it, for the purpose of yieldably restraining any loose convolutions. The arm may be provided with an adjustable counterweight 8|. The operation of the invention will now be a parent from the above disclosure. Each rod bundle is moved along the coil conveyor III by one of the dogs I 4 until this dog passes-.downwardly around the sprocket I 8, whereupon the bundle will come to rest momentarily until the following dog l5 engages its rear surface. The dog I5 will then push the bundle forwardly until the front portion of the bundle slides forwardly and downwardly by gravity over the sloping surface 69 of the supporting member 59 and into the tray 63, the rear portion of the bundle resting on the hump 9| as shown in Fig. 2. The continued rotation of the cam H will now swing the tray 63 downwardly and rearwardly, with the front portion of the bundle supported therein, until the axis of the bundle is substantially horizontal. In the meantime the rotation of the sheave 30 will have advanced one of the hooks .26 along the groove 16 in the supporting member 59 and inserted the hook through the bundle from the rear thereof to remove the bundle from the supporting member, as shown in Fig. 3. During this operation, rearward swinging of the hook is prevented by one of the brackets 13 which engages the boss 14 on the hook. The cam H is so shaped that the tray 63 will remain stationary while the bundle is being removed by the hook and until the bundle has been advanced sufliciently to avoid interference, whereupon the tray is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 2 for the receipt of the next bundle. During the transfer of the bundle the arm 18 rests thereon lightly and tends to prevent loosening and disarrangement of the convolutions.

It will be apparent that the, invention provides a very simple and effective mechanism which will function automatically to transfer the rod bundles to the hook carrier gently and without shock. The brackets 13 prevent rearward swinging of the hooks at the time of transfer without interfering with such movement at other times. The rail 22 can be constructed with portions at a substantial inclination if desired, as there is nothing to cause undue friction and wear under these circumstances.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or simi- 2. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to advance the bundles with their axes upright, means effective as each bundle is delivered by the conveyer to swing the front portion of the bundle downwardly and rearwardly, a stationary device arranged to support the rear portion of the bundle from beneath to prevent sagging of the inner convolutions during the swinging movement of the bundle, and a series of hooks arranged to travel past the said device and to pass through the bundles from the rear thereof while they are supported by the said device.

3. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to advance the bundles with their axes upright, a stationary supporting member located adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and projecting forwardly in the general direction of travel of the bundles, the conveyor serving to advance each bundle until the front portion thereof drops by gravity beyond the supporting member while the rear portion of the bundle rests on said member, and a series of hooks arranged to travel past the supporting member from the rear and to remove the bundles therefrom.

4. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to advance the bundles with their axes upright, means located adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and providing two laterally spaced stationary supporting surfaces which extend forwardly in the general direction of travel of the bundles, the conveyor serving to advance each bundle until the front portion thereof drops by gravity beyond the supporting surfaces while the rear portion of the bundle rests on said surfaces, and a series of hooks arranged to travel between said supporting surfaces from the rear and to remove the bundles therefrom.

5. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising means providing a substantially horizontal surface having a slot therein, a series of dogs extending upwardly through the slot, an endless driving element connected to the dogs to move them along the slot, certain of said dogs being arranged to extend into the interior of the bundles to slide them along said surface with their axes upright while alternate dogs follow behind the bundles, a supporting member located beyond the path of travel of the dogs and projecting forwardly in the general direction of travel of the bundles, the said alternate dogs serving to push the bundles forwardly and cause the front portion of each bundle to drop by gravity beyond the supporting member while the rear portion of the bundle rests on said member, and a series of hooks arranged to travel adjacent to the supporting member and to remove the bundles therefrom.

6. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to advance the bundles with their axes upright, a tray arranged to receive each bundle delivered by the conveyor, means to swing the tray downwardly and rearwardly after a bundle has been delivered thereto, and. a series of books movable past the tray and arranged to pass through the bundles from the rear thereofwhile the tray is in its lowered position and thus remove the bundles from the tray.

7. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to advance the bundles-with their axes upright, a stationary supporting member located adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and projecting forwardly in the general direction of travel of the bundles, a tray extending forwardly beyond the supporting member and arranged to receive the front portion of each bundle as it is advanced by the conveyor, means to swing the tray downwardly and rearwardly while the rear portion of the bundle rests on the supporting member, a series of hooks arranged to travel past the supporting member from the rear and to remove the bundles therefrom, and means to swing the tray upwardly and forwardly after the removal of each bundle.

8. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to advance the bundles with their axes upright, a tray arranged to receive each bundle delivered by the conveyor, means supporting the tray for a pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis extending transversely of the conveyor, actuating mechanism arranged to swing the tray downwardly and rearwardly about its axis after a bundle has been delivered thereto and then upwardly and forwardly to its receiving position, the tray remaining substantially stationary for an interval while in its lowered position, and a series of hooks movable past .the tray and arranged to pass through the bundles from the rear thereof during such intervals and thus remove the bundles from the tray.

9. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a wheel rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, an endless flexible member passing around the wheel, a series of traveling hooks driven by the flexible member. conveying means for advancing rod bundles into a position such that they will be engaged by the hooks as the hooks travel around the wheel, and abutments revoluble with the wheel and arranged to engage the hooks to prevent them from swinging rearwardly.

10. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a rail, wheels engaging the rail, a series of traveling hooks suspended from the wheels, a sheave rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, an endless flexible member passing around the sheave and connected to the hooks to drive the same, conveying means for advancing rod bundles into a position such that they will be engaged by the hooks as the hooks travel around the sheave, and abutments revoluble with the sheave and arranged to engage the hooks to prevent them from swinging rearwardly.

11. Apparatus 'for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a rail, wheels engaging the rail, hangers depending from the wheels, at sheave rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, an endless flexible member passing around the sheave and connected to the hangers to drive the same, a series of hooks suspended from the hangers by transverse hinges, the hooks pointing forwardly in the direction of travel, conveying means for advancing rod bundles into a position such that they will be engaged by the hooks as the hooks travel around the sheave, and abutments revoluble with the sheave and arranged to engage the hooks to prevent themfrom swin ing rearwardly about their hinges.

RICHARD W. YOUNG.-

JOSEPH M. OMAILEY. 

